Chronic drunk driver sentenced in 3-vehicle crash

MUSKEGON -- A 23-year-old chronic drunken driver from Ravenna is going to prison for at least eight years for causing a three-vehicle crash Aug. 7 in Moorland Township that killed another driver.

Sentenced Monday was Feliciano Salas of 11920 Hall. Salas last month pleaded guilty as charged to four felony counts stemming from a 10:30 p.m. crash at Slocum Road and Laketon Avenue.

The driver of one of the other vehicles, Kenneth James Sturtevant, 55, of Ravenna, died while being airlifted from the scene. Sturtevant had been pinned inside his Ford Escort. Salas also was injured.

The third driver, Robert Powell, 40, of 2591 S. Slocum, was northbound on Slocum and trying to make a left turn onto Laketon when Salas' full-size sport utility vehicle rear-ended Powell's SUV. The impact sent Powell's vehicle into Sturtevant's car, which was southbound on Slocum, police said. Sturtevant and Salas were pinned in their vehicles.

Powell was uninjured.

Sturtevant worked for the Coopersville Department of Public Works, and with his wife, Mary Sturtevant, was a caretaker for Patterson Park in Ravenna.

Muskegon County Circuit Judge Timothy G. Hicks sentenced Salas to two prison terms of eight years four months to 15 years for driving while impaired causing death and driving with a suspended license causing death, and two terms of 18 months to five years for driving while impaired causing serious injury and third-offense drunken driving. The terms are to be served at the same time. Salas received credit for five months already served in jail.

Hicks also ordered Salas to pay $1,742 in fines, costs and restitution.